Convertible utensil



April 22, 1930. c. R. FAGLEY CONVERTIBLE UTENSIL Filed Aug. 5, 1929 4 SheetsSheet l gToRNEx/s:

n April 22, 1930. Q R, FAGLEY 1,755,918

CONVERTI BLE UTENS I L Filed Aug. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 22, 1930. Q R, FAGLEY 1,755,918

CONVERTIBLE UTENS IL Filed ug. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.'-`

April 22, 1930. C, R, FAGLEY 1,755,918

CONVERTIBLE UTENS IL Filed Aug. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.' 6.4 fir/f? F/VGLEY:

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 PATENT rFicfE CLAIR R, FAGLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CONVERTIBLE 'UTENSIL Application 1ed August 5, 1929. Serial No. 383,614.

My inifcntion relates to anew and useful convertible utensil which nay be easily and quickly transformed and adapted for diiieront uses and purposes, and it relates more ypar- 5 ticularly to a household utensil which can bc. Vconverted and adapted for use as a dish washeigsteam cooker and canner, without any special skill, eilort, 0r labor, the transformation of my utensil, from one form and puro poseto another, 'being effected by the addition, omission, or transposition ot' parts thereof, all ot' which can vbe done instantaneously and without permanently affecting; the utility or my lutensil or detracting from its value and 'i5 practicability.

U nder modern crowded housing conditions which prei/'ail in large centers of population, the saving of space is an acute problem, and the :provision of compact instrumentalities 'torthe doing;l ofhousehold work is a pressing necessit since in the apartment house type o t kitchen, for instance, itis often impossible to find 'storage yspace for all the various kitchen utensils which are necessary for housekeeping, especially -in view of the fact that most of the work heretofore done by hand is at the present time done by automatic machinery.

lt is therefore the obj ect oi my invention a0 to provide a convertible utensil which may be u Il .for three diterentpurposes, thus re- ;uacing three different machines or utensils, and thereby electingconsioerable economy in the storage space consumed and in the handlingand transportation ot'lhouschold goods when occasion arises.

To the above ends, my invention consists et the various novel features of construction and adiantageV illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and hereinatter described and claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention lhaveshowu in theaccompanyi-ng; drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by-ine, since.thesame have been found in practice to Lgive satisfactory and reliable results, although it ,is to be unuerstoo'd that the varicuisinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be. variously arranged 5U and :iorotanizerjl and that my invention is .not

limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the linstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig'. 1, represents a .vertical sectional view 55 ot a convertible utensil embodying my novel construction, shown adapted for Ause as a dishwasher, certain parts being shown in elevation.

F 2, represents a plan view ot Fig. 1 60 with the cover removed.

Fig. 3, represents a View similar to Fig. 1 showing my novel construction adapted Jfor use as a canner.

4, represents a plan view of Fig. 3 G5 with the cover removed.

Fig. 5, represents a view similar Ato Figs. l and 8 showing my novel construction adapted for use as a steam cooker. f

Fig. 6, represents a plan view ot F ig. 5 70 with the cover removed.

F ig. 7, represents a perspective View of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8, represents a plan view ot Fig. 7.

F ig. 9, represents a section on line 9-9, 75 F ig. 8.

Fig. 10, represents a lplan view of certain parts shown in F ig. 8.

Fig. 1l, represents a plan view similar to F ig. 8 showing a modified construction. 80

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, F ig.

1 illustrates a convertible utensil embodying my invention shown adapted for use as a dishwasher, and comprising a container or boiler 1 formed of the bottom Q, the annular wall 8, having the handles 4, and provided with a cover 5 having the handle 6. The cover 5 is yprovided. with a horizontal, annular flange 8, which seats upon the bead 9, and go with the vertical flange l0, which seats within the upper rim of the annular wall 8, as will be understood from F igs. 1, 3, and 5. Within the container or boiler 1 is positioned a Wire basket composed of the vertical legs 12, the upper ends of which are soldered or otherwise secured to the annular v member or ring 13, as at 14, and the lower ends 1 5 ot which are deected upwardly and inwardly to `form the horizontal braces 16 leo f latter to a suitable distance above the bottom .2 of the boiler 1.` '.26v designates dishes or which are suitably secured to the series of concentric rings 18 Which forni a bottom Vfor said Wire basket, as Will be understood trom Figs. 1 and 2. A Wire brace 19 may be employed, if desired, :tor the purpose of reinforcing the construction. 2() designates a pair of handles hinged to the upper ring 13 .at 21, whereby the Wire basket as a unit may be lowered into and Withdrawn from the container 1 When the cover 5 is removed. The lower ends 15 of the legs 12 of the Wire ybasket rest upon the false bottom 23, which is provided With peripheral slots or cut-away portions 24 and with the vertical teats orV nipples 25. Vrihe false bottom 23 is oi a generally conveXed or dome-like shape and in conjunctionrwith the legs 12 of the Wire basket servesto raise the bottom oi the other ivare to be washed, Which are positioned Within the Wire basket (see Fig. 1) in spaced relation to the bottom of the boiler. ln this construction Water is introduced into the boiler to about the top of the dishes and suit-- able heat is applied. This 'results in jetsot steam and hot Water being forced through the nipples 25 vand the slots 24, upwardly against the dishes 26 thoroughly to cleanse saidv dishes, vWhile `thehot, dry steam which permeates theinside of the pot 1 serves to sterilize the dishes. When thedishes have been thoroughlyV Washed and sterilized, the cover 5 isremoved .by the handle 6 and the Wire basket carrying ythe dishes is Withdrawn Vby means of the handles 20 tor the purposes of rinsing and drying.

lNhenit is desired .to use my novel convertible utensil as a' canner, it is merely necessary to add to the Wire basket shown in Fig. 1, the Wire frame illustrated 1n Fig. 10,.

which is composed oi the spring arms 28 which are bulged at 29,*and which are intertwined at 30 With the arms 31 Which terminate in the hooks 32. he hooks 32 are adapted to engage the handles 20 at (see Fig. 3) at any desired height, and the jarsor cans 34 are then positioned Vin the Wire basket with the tops thereof projected upwardly' between and being spaced by the spring arms 29 and 31,*so that siX such jars 34 are positioned in the wire basket simultaneously and are firmly held in vposition and prevented from impact against each other to guard against breakage. In' this' construction the falsebottom 23 .(shown in Fig. 1) may be Vdispensed with if so desired or may be emploved at will.

' lVhen it is desired to use my novel iconvertible utensil as a steam cooker, it is merely necessary to invertthe Wire basket shown in 1, With the handles 20 thereof folded thereunder, and to position on the concentric rings i6 and the braces 18'tvvhich form the l bottoni-ot' the inverted basket) the lowermost pan 36 which is prevented from slippingl or displacement by the bottom ends 15 of the inverted legs 12. rIhe bottom pan 36 is provided with handles 37 and servesv to support the intermediate pan 33, Whichis provided with the bottom lugs 39 which engage the upper rim of thebottom pan-36. The inter,- mediate pan 38 inturn is provided With handles 40 and serves to support the upper pan 41 Which is. similarly maintained in place by the bottom lug 39 and has handles 37. Inthisconstruction Water is introduced into the bottom of the pot 1 and the edibles'in the pans 36, 38,V and 41 are, cooked by the effect of the steam generated Within said pot without direct Contact with the source of heat.

Referring again to Figs. 1 Vand 7, I have illustrated the Vfalse bottom 23 as being pro#y vided with the vertical rods 44 Which are suitably secured to said bottom at 45 and which have the upper deflected ends 46 which are adapted to engage'l the rei es orapertured lugs 47 in the inner surface of theannular wail 3 ofthe pot 1, for the purpose of preventing the raising or disturbance of the false bottom 23 by the force of the steam generated thereunder so thatV said steam may be forcibly ejected through the nipples or teats 25 against the dishes 26 to insure thorough cleansing thereof. n

' In Fig. 11 L have shown a Vmodified form of the false bottom 47 which is provided with the peripheral ports 43"an'd With the central nipple or teat 49, the slots or cut-away portions shown in Figs.V 1, 7, 8, and 9 being omitted, it being understood thatV the false bottom 47 shown in Fig'. 11 may be provided With the retaining rods 44 if so desired.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a novel, convertible utensil which serves as a dishwasher, canner, and steam cooker, and that to transform said utensil fromy a dish- Washer (see Fig. 1)- to a canner (see Fig. 2) it is merely necessary to add the Wire frame or brace illustrated in Fig. 10, with or without the use of the false bottom 2.3 (see Fig. 3) Similarly, to convert my novel utensil lfrom a dishwasher to a ysteam cooker, the

Wire brace shown in Fig. 10 and'employed vin Fig. 3 is Vomitted and the Wire basket is inverted to form a support for the pans 36, 33 and 41 Without the necessity of a false bottom 23. .Y

it Will further be seen that I and compact and one Which is easy to clean, and hence sanitary. My novel utensil being of ak simple construction is inexpensive Vto,

have devised' a novel utensil whichis extremely Wi'eldyV cover and when used as a dish washer the false bottom, which may be of a cone, dome or pyramid design is to be placed in the bottom of the boiler. This false bottom has any number of round holes or openings around its edge or close to the edge and the holes at or near the center of the false bottom when provided with the short tubes or nipples serve to direct and supply greater force to the boiling Water passing upwardly through them. These short tubes can be either straight or tapered and the false bottom can be laid in loose or itcan be so constructed that it is removably fastened to the inside of the boiler. Then washing dishes the same are placed loose in the wire basket or means can be provided to support the plates in a perpendicular or upright position and separate from one another to permit a clear free circulation ot' the water between the dishes. When the device is used as a steam cooker the Jfalse bottom is removed from the boiler if desired and the wire basket is placed in the bottom of the boiler inverted so that its bottom forms a skeleton support for the for food which will be steam cooked by the steam from the boiling water. Then the wire basket is used in its regular positlon for supporting fruit jars containingl fruit, vegetables or other edibles, the boiling Water will steam cook the food or as it is more commonly termed cold pack method of canning and preserving the food or edibles may be ern- It will be understood that my novel device can be constructed of any suitable metal and that the design or shape of the holes and short tubes in the false bottom can be changed or varied according to requirements. I have found from practical experiments that the employment of the short tubes proj ectingupwardly from the false bottom causes the circulating water to be forced through the holes and said short tubes extending from said holes at the apex or top of the false bottom so as to produce a very much greater force and circulation in the water contained in the boiler.

These holes and short tubes or upward extending nipples, can be one, two, three, four, tive or more in number, depending upon the force desired to project the water and steam passing through these tubes or nipples.

In the producing of a long oval or oblong shaped boiler for this use and purpose, two or a greater number of dome, cone or pyramid shaped false bottoms can be used with cach havingl same manner and torm of con struction of holes or slots around the edges with one or more short tubes or upwardly extending nipples from the centrally located' top of the false bottom. A series of smaller dimension domes with same principle of construction could also be applied in a large nseanflnnnpnse .If ainvnre'thnt the nventien mayv be @3nboled in other Specific fOrInS Without departing from-the spirit or essentialattributes thereof, and' I' therefore desire the present embodiment'to be considered in alle respects nfs illnstnntve nnflgno restrictive, 'reference beinghad. to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the Senne ef the invention- .Hnvna thus described Inv invention what I claim las new and,k desire to secure by Letn ters Patent, isrl. A convertible utensil of the character stated', com )rising a container, a removable cover there or, a wi rev frame positioned with'- in saidcontainer, said wire framebeing reversible'andbeing ajdapted'to forni a basket for receivingdishes and the like when in the upright positionand tok form a support for cooking utensils whenin the inverted position,rand a convex falsebottom' positioned below said frame and provided with 'outer peripheral recesses and with upwardly extending nipples.

2., Aronvertible. utensil of the character stated, comprising a container, a removable cover therefor, a false bottom for said container, a wire 'frame adapted to be positioned within said container, .said wire Atraine l being` reversibleandY being vad'aptedto form a basket-for receiving dishes and the like when in the upright position and/to form asupport'for' cookingutensils whenfin the inverted position, upright handles hinged at their lower portions to said frame, and` a horizontal positioningirame having hookedfarms adapted to engage said'diandles.

3, d convertible utensil ofthe character stated, comprising a container, a. removable cover therefoiga false bottomfor lsaid container, a lower wire Jframe adapted to' be positioned within said container, saidI wire frame being reversible and; being adapted to form a basket `for receiving dishes and the like w-henin the uprightposition andtoform a support for cooking utensils when in the inverted position, upright handles hinged at theirlower portions 'to said frame, land an upper wire frame comprising hooked 'defie'cted armsY adapted to 'engage said handles. and bulgedspring arms arranged at aright angle to said hooked arms, said deflected and bulged arms being adapted to engage andretain the upper portion ofthe cookingutensils positioned Upon saidy lower frame when the latter is in inverted position.

4. A convertible utensil of the character stated, comprising a container, a removablel cover therefor, a wire frame positioned within said container, said wire frame being reversible and being adapted to form a basket for receiving dishes and the like when in the upa-ight position and to form a support for round ernannte,shnpndboler fen this seine cooking .utensils/When 'in the invertedvposi? tion7 and a convex false bottoinpositioned be- Y low said traine andy p rovidedwith outer -pe l ripheral recesses and upwardly extending nipplesyupriglit handles hinged at their lower portions tov said frame, and a can'positionjl ing ,frame having hooked arms adapted toy engage said'handles and 'can positioning arms arranged atv a right angle to saidv hooked arms.

, 5.-:lna boiierna false conyexbottoin hav#A Ving peripheral recesses and short upwardly projecting nipples," upright retaining rods havino` their lower ends vfast lto said bottom van'dtheir 'upper ends deiiected,V and eyes attached to the upper inner Wall of saidboiler and engaging saidy deflected upper ends.

6. A convertible utensil of. the .character stated, Comprising a container, a removable v coverl therefor, a false bottoni for said` container, vertical retaining rods secured at their lou-'er ends tosaidrbottoin and havingupper deflectedends, eyescarried by the upper 1n-` V ner wall ofsaid container adapted to engage said deileeted ends, a Wire frameadapted to be positionedwithin said ycontainer, said Wire traine being reversible and being adapted to forni a basketfor receiving dishesand the like when inlv the upright position and :to form a f support for cooking utensils. When'in the in- Y vierted position, upright handles hinged at their loWerVport-ions to said traine, and a horizontal positioning frame having hooked arins adapted to engage said handles.A i p A convertible utensil ,of` the character stated,- comprising acontainer, a reino'vabley cover therefor, a. false bottoni for rsil-ideentaineryvertical retaining rodsseeured at their lower ends to said bottom and haiing upper deflected ends, eyes carried by the upper innerfwall of saidycontainer adapted to engage said defieetedends, a lower Wire traine adapted to be'positioned WithinI said container, said Wire frame being reversibleand i being adapted to `forni a basketfor receiving dishes andthe like When in the upright position and to 'form a support for cooking utensils when y in the inverted position7 lupright handles rhinged at .their lower portions to said'frarne` an upper Wiregfraine comprising hooked de; eeted arins adapted toV engage said handles, and bulged springarms arranged at a right angle to said lhooked arms,said deflected andv Ilnulged arins .being adapted to engage and re- 'iain the upper portions` `of the cooking utensilspositionedupon lsaid lower frame when the latter is in inverted position. I

' CLAIR R. FAGLEY.

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